Latheefa dares Anwar to free Najib if ex-PM victimised

Summary

• Former MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya challenges Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to secure his predecessor Najib Abdul Razak’s release from prison.

• She makes the challenge based on Anwar’s claims that several high-profile prosecutions in 2018 were “rushed” and tainted by “venom and enmity.”

• Latheefa also blames Anwar for the confusion over the addendum issue, saying the government should have been transparent from the get-go.

Veteran human rights lawyer Latheefa Koya has challenged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to secure his predecessor Najib Abdul Razak’s release from prison.

Latheefa, who served as MACC chief commissioner between June 2019 and March 2020, made the call following Anwar’s claim in December last year that several high-profile prosecutions in 2018 were “rushed” and tainted by “venom and enmity”.

“Who is he (Anwar) talking about? Who is the group or person responsible to have carried such a vendetta?

“Is he questioning the courts? How many judges had found Najib guilty, for example, and convicted him?

“If you are saying it’s malicious prosecution, then you have undermined whatever decision made at the highest court,” she said.

Latheefa was speaking on Malaysiakini’s “Straight Talk” podcast hosted by former envoy Dennis Ignatius.

On Dec 21 last year, following the acquittal of Najib’s wife Rosmah Mansor of money laundering charges, Anwar said he was not involved in the court’s decision and claimed that several high-profile prosecutions in 2018 were driven by personal agendas.

“You must also know, at that time, the pace of prosecution taking place (was) all done in a hurry, with venom, enmity, and political vengeance with those in power at that time.

“So, many of the prosecutions were flawed,” he added.

‘PM beating around bush’

Given Anwar’s remarks, Latheefa questioned why Najib merely had his jail sentence and fine reduced instead of being freed from prison.

“If that is the case, why give a discount? Why don’t you free him? If you think it was completely wrong, malicious, and full of venom then you should free the person; he’s a victim.

“But it’s neither this nor that. You gave a 50 percent discount and you created this whole addendum thing and we have still not resolved the issue of house arrest.

“Why halfway? It’s either he is a victim or he is not. Why don’t you just release Najib, I mean I dare him to release Najib if you say it’s full of venom,” Latheefa said.

However, she said that it was typical of Anwar to “waffle about” when he could not easily answer questions.

‘Anwar confusing public on addendum’

On the royal addendum ordering Najib to serve the remainder of his jail sentence under house arrest, Latheefa stressed that it was Anwar who confused the public on the matter.

She said the matter would not have become a huge problem if the administration had been transparent in the first place.

“There shouldn’t have been an issue. If there was transparency then you wouldn’t have this issue. If you say the addendum was made after the meeting with the Pardons Board, then you can clearly say the addendum is not part of the Pardons Board, that’s it.

“But why do you need to go all over the place and send it to court… for what? Only for the latter to confirm it exists?

“So, this is theatre. Perhaps, it’s probably if you say it this way (confirming its existence), you may upset one group and if you say that way (does not exist), you may upset another group,” she added.

Addendum’s existence confirmed

On Jan 6, the Pahang Palace confirmed in a letter that the previous Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah issued the royal addendum granting Najib house arrest.

Najib’s counsel Shafee Abdullah tabled the letter before the Court of Appeal that day.

The letter, signed by the Comptroller of the Royal Household for the Sultan of Pahang, Ahmad Khirrizal Ab Rahman, confirmed the addendum and its contents.

This came after Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail told the Dewan Rakyat that the addendum was just hearsay based on the ruling made by the Kuala Lumpur High Court in July.

On Jan 11, Anwar acknowledged that the attorney-general (AG) received a letter regarding the royal addendum.

However, he claimed the addendum was sent straight to the AG’s Chambers, not to him or the Pardons Board.

AG cites forums involving Najib's lawyer to justify gag order on addendum

Gag order may block right of MPs to debate addendum issue: Hamzah

Calls for Terrirudin to be benched for addendum errors as AG

AGC trying to cover up own mistakes with gag order bid - lawyer

I only 'cut and pasted' Arab donor statement, MACC officer testifies

Najib's lawyers unable to find defence witness